Catnip

shel64

I have just ordered online 2 types of Catnip seeds, one is lemon scented, I was wondering if any cat loving person has this in their garden? and do the cats like it? I was hoping it might keep them away from the rest of the garden if they have their own patch

boomerang

Something like only 70% of cats are attracted to catnip. I planted catnip from seed for my guys and sods law, they weren't interested. Cats that do like catnip tend to roll all over and crush the plants so I don't know how long the plants would survive for you.

Alun

They love it, the only problem I have is getting them established before the cat rubs herself all over the seedlings and destroys them before they've had the chance to grow Even buying established plants doesn't work for us as again she destroys them. However, the neighbour over the road from us has a small garden full of catnip and lavender, and if your cat ever goes missing, we know where to find her .. it's like a local cat opium den over there some times, she comes back all spaced out and high on catnip

shel64

I bought 2 packets of each, one ordinary and one lemon scented, 2 I'm going to put in seed trays and 2 I will sprinkle wen I move in, I am in the proceeds of buying a bungalow, I have 3 cats and hope this will also keep them around, I was wondering if cats like the lemon scented variety too,I would be quite happy to put loads along the back wall for them, I have bought catmit before and my cats ignored it , but I think catnip is different

aonb

Catmint and catnip are the same thing -

Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, central Asia, and parts of China.

It seems that only about 50% of cats are affected by Nepetalactone the chemical in the plant... Ive got it growing in the garden, its a perennial, so the important thing is to let a good amount get really well established. I would put as many seedlings in BIG pots as you can manage - keep them somewhere the cats cant access, let them grow on in the pots, then plant them out next year - in clumps. Get some sort of netting to keep the cats off them until they are well established. You can pick the leaves when they are in full bloom, dry them, and sew them into little sachets (or just tie them into pieces of cloth if you arent a sewer) for fun and games. My cat ignores the fresh leaves/plant, only like them when dried!

shel64

thankyou for your replies, I just hope they like the lemon scented if they don't like the ordinary mint, I have googled a couple of other plants cats like so will look into getting them too,,,,